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Honor and money in Milan showdown
MILAN, Italy (CNN) -- Milan is gearing up for a heavyweight soccer showdown that could be a lifeline to Italy's sporting passion. AC Milan play Inter Milan for a place in the European Champions League final with city pride and millions of dollars at stake. The semifinal, with the first leg on Wednesday, marks a renaissance for Milan's two great teams -- and for Italian soccer. Last year the national side were dumped out of the World Cup by South Korea. Then the Serie A season kicked off late because of a row over television money. Multi-million dollar transfers that had been a trademark of the Italian game dried up with clubs fearful of the fate of Fiorentina -- bankrupt and out of the league. Lazio of Rome were put up for sale as clubs struggled for sponsorship. Serie A lost millions as revenue failed to keep pace with spiraling salaries. AC Milan, owned by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has an annual salary bill of $120 million. It is a pattern reflected across Europe's big leagues, a trend bucked only by the richest clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United. Now one of the Milan teams -- or Juventus of Turin who play defending champions Real Madrid in the other semifinal -- stand to earn up to $12 million in prize money, television rights, sponsorships and merchandizing. The financial stakes are higher for the Milan clubs as Juventus, who lost their first leg in Madrid 2-1 Tuesday, seem certain to win the Italian championship. Needless to say, the match between the fierce rivals, who share the 70,000-capacity San Siro stadium, dominates talk in offices, bars, schools and taxis. "Football in heaven" said a headline in the Gazzetta dello Sport Tuesday. The stadium will be split between the red and black of AC Milan and Inter's blue and black. Millions of other fans will watch the match live on television. Berlusconi told the newspaper: "I am proud for Milan and Inter. I also hope that later we can see an all-Italian final." "A Champions League semifinal between Inter and Milan is something exceptional and we are determined to be the winning side," said Inter defender and Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro.
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